When Steven Soderbergh (Magic Mike's Last Dance) and David Koepp (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) work together, someone on-screen is watching on, listening in or both. With the former helming and the latter penning the screenplays, the veteran filmmakers have joined forces on three features so far: 2022's Kimi, as well as the 2025 duo of Presence and Black Bag. Surveillance plays a pivotal part in each. The first of their collaborations focused on an always-eavesdropping smart speaker, plus the company employee who hears something sinister in its audio streams. The third of their shared projects is a spy thriller that hits cinemas in March 2025. Then there's the duo's ghost story, about a family who moves into a home with an otherworldly existing resident. In Presence, the titular entity is indeed peering on and pricking up its ears. How does this ever-prolific pair, whose careers both date back to separate debut movies that screened at the 1989 Sundance Film Festival — Soderbergh's Sex, Lies, and Videotape and the Koepp-scripted Apartment Zero — not only take on the horror-genre staple that is haunted houses, but give it a new perspective? The answer is that very perspective. Presence adopts the viewpoint of the body doing the spooking, which means that the picture's sound and vision presents what its ghost sees and hears. For viewers, there's no question whether there's a spirit lingering about; that's clear immediately. The film's four key humans — matriarch Rebekah (Lucy Liu, Red One), her husband Chris (Chris Sullivan, a veteran of Soderbergh's excellent TV series The Knick), and their teenage children Chloe (Callina Liang, Foundation) and Tyler (debutant Eddy Maday) — aren't as clued in as the audience when Presence begins. They've simply relocated to a new house in the suburbs and are endeavouring to go about their daily lives. The ghost is there before them. It watches on as they navigate dinners, fights, secrets, romances and everything in-between. It spots how Rebekah favours Tyler, and only Chris treats Chloe with kindness. And soon, it starts to make its presence known. Soderbergh came to Koepp about Presence with the basics: "a handful of pages and a strong aesthetic concept," Koepp tells Concrete Playground. From there, for a director who also lensed and edited the film himself — and therefore, as the cinematographer, basically plays the ghost himself — the screenwriter fleshed out a narrative that's as much as family drama as a haunted-house flick. He's working with elements that he loves, and it both shows and pays off, as does the immersive, patient, long-take ghost's-eye camerawork. Koepp has both Stir of Echoes and Ghost Town on his resume, two other tales of haunting entities that he directed. He's no stranger to one-location setups, either, writing David Fincher's Panic Room. Real life was partly an inspiration for Presence, after strange things started happening in Soderbergh's own Los Angeles home, where he knew that someone had died before he moved in. Koepp has had his own encounter with odd occurrences that could possibly be chalked up to the supernatural — but he also knows the thrill that can and does spring from choosing to believe that something ghostly has happened. Building that feeling in, and also the 'has it/hasn't it?' sensation that everyone has had at least when a door swings open or an item has moved unexpectedly, is also one of his Presence feats. Koepp might find excitement and even a dash of optimism in Presence's concept, but that isn't the case with his other surveillance-heavy films with Soderbergh. "I think with a ghost story, yes," he advises. "But I don't find the idea that someone's watching or listening to be hopeful. I find it to be creepy." He continues: "And it's that sense of paranoia is what we're very consciously playing on. Certainly in Kimi. We're right. We've given permission to these devices to just listen to everything we say and do. Everybody's had the feeling of 'hey, I was just talking about Philadelphia, and now my phone is suggesting hotels in Philadelphia'. Well, there's a reason for that. You're not crazy." "And in this, those same feelings of unease — maybe even in this case dread — were things we wanted to play with." Two movies hitting cinemas within two months would be huge for most screenwriters. Koepp also has a third film on its way to picture palaces mid-2025: Jurassic World Rebirth, which sees him return to the franchise after co-penning the OG Jurassic Park script and The Lost World: Jurassic Park, both for Steven Spielberg. His resume highlights go on; Carlito's Way, the first Mission: Impossible, 2002's Spider-Man and Spielberg's War of the Worlds are all on Koepp's filmography, too, and represent just a selection of his wide-ranging array of projects. We also chatted with the Presence scribe about the intimacy of ghost stories, wanting to believe, working with a director who shoots and edits his pictures himself, the variety of films across his busy career and more. On the Intimacy of Ghost Stories — Including When a Haunted-House Film Is a Family Drama Shot From the Ghost's Perspective "Yes, as you point out, ghost stories are really intimate. I've done other ghost stories. I've done one that's meant to be scary, a comedy and this, and I often notice that in most stories, the person who is able to perceive the ghost is usually in some kind of difficult situation in their home life. And that's probably just because that's what makes for drama. You don't want to pick somebody who has everything going well. But I had this theory that perhaps that's also because having experienced a trauma opens you up to be more sensitive to things you couldn't perceive before. I know that there have been periods in my own life when I've gone through things I'd describe now as traumatic, and I felt much more in tune with the emotions of the people around me, because you're just opened up to the world in that way. And I thought 'if you're opened up to the world, why not the other world?'." On Using Real Life as a Starting Point — and Toying with the Excitement of Wanting to Believe "I think that with all of us personally — I can't speak to Steven's experience, but I know in my own, it's something that may or may not have happened, but I really wanted it to have happened. Because who doesn't want to believe these things? And because the very notion of believing in a ghost is optimistic, in that you believe there's something after we die. Who doesn't want to believe that? In Chloe's case, it quickly becomes pretty inarguable. The books were on the bed. The books are now not on the bed. And I guess she can question herself a little bit, but she's not an older person who can say 'oh, I forgot' — she is 16 years old. She knows very well where she left the books. But I do think that most of us who think something like that happened, it's terribly exciting and interesting. Why wouldn't we want it to have happened? And Chloe even says it to her brother later, she says 'can't part of you admit that this is the most-interesting thing that's ever happened in your life? Are you that scared of it that you can't admit that?'." On Writing for a Ghost — and, for a Ghost Basically Played by Steven Soderbergh as Presence's Cameraman "When I first said 'okay, let's do this' and I laid out the story, and then when I started writing it, at first I thought 'oh, this is going to be terribly limiting' — because I'm writing a four-character piece, but I can't ever cut. I can't, if I need a close-up of something, I can't. If I need a reverse, I can't. If I want to suddenly see another character's face for impact, I can't. I can't intercut between locations for suspense. All these tools that are usually available in writing for cinema were now off limits, and I thought 'how limiting'. Then I realised just a few pages into the writing 'no, no, no, you're not writing a four-character piece — you're writing a five-character piece. The fifth character is the presence, and it's played by the camera'. So when I embraced the presence as a character, it could then have feelings and that dictated what happened. It's anxious. It's restless. We know it's kind of fearful because it retreats into the closet frequently. So that made everything much easier, because now I'm writing for a character and I know how to do that." On Penning a Screenplay for a Film That Audiences Will See Differently the Second Time Around "I know everything before I go in, because I've outlined and I've written a summary of it, so I have a good idea who it is and what they're doing. So I'm dropping clues throughout — and there are a number of clues in the body of the film. From a character standpoint, knowing who the presence is and knowing some specifics about them tells me how they would behave. So I think I'm gratified by how many people fully understood it the first time. And I think it does reward a second viewing in that you see all the signposts that were there for you along the way." On the Importance of Presence Being a Film About a Family Struggling as Much as It Is a Haunted-House Film "That was what made it fun. When Steven told me the idea, he said it all needs to be in one house — I mean the aesthetic idea — he said it all needs to be in one house, and I'd like it to be a family. And it hit three of my top boxes for things that I'm interested in writing. It had a strong concept behind it that limited us in some way, and therefore freed us up or forced us into creative solutions. It was all set in a house. I like stories like that. I've done a few of them. Panic Room some years ago, all in one house. And it was a family drama. And one of the things that I like about the big resurgence in horror films in the last ten or 15 or 20 years, I don't know how long it's been now, is that you can you can smuggle in other kinds of stories in the box of a spooky movie. And so I love writing families. I have four kids, I've known a lot of families. We all have our birth families, and if we're lucky enough to have kids, we know that family — and they're very dynamic groups. And it was great fun to be able to write a family drama." On What Keeps Drawing Koepp to Two of Presence's Key Elements: Ghost Stories and One-Location Films "I don't know psychologically, but I do know practically. I call them bottles, in that there's a container for your wine — and much like the Hays Code of the Hollywood in the 30s, 40s and 50s had very strict rules about what you could do and what you couldn't do in terms of sex and innuendo, so the filmmakers were left to think of ways around it and clever ways to insinuate. And I think when you say 'okay, we can't leave the house', then you're compelled to think of creative solutions to your problems. And 'how do I make this interesting even though I'm stuck in this house for the whole movie?'. And 'how do I make that an advantage instead of a disadvantage?'. For me, when you sit down to write something, there's a sense that the world is too big. If you can go anywhere and have them do anything and have absolutely anyone be in it, where do you even begin? It just makes me want to take a nap. But when I'm limited in terms of who can be in it and where they can be, now suddenly I feel like I'm starting to have ideas. I think da Vinci — I don't want to be too highfalutin, but I think Leonardo da Vinci said that all great art is born out of limitation. I'm not saying we're great art, but I think he's right about that." On the Collaborative Process When Working with a Filmmaker Who Directs, Shoots and Edits — as Soderbergh Does on Kimi and Presence "Well, it's particular to the person. All the great directors I've worked with are very hands-on. They don't all do as many jobs as Steven does, shooting it and editing it. Confident people are easier to work with than people who lack confidence. And Steven is extremely confident and extremely decisive. And therefore, he lets other people do their jobs. I know he can do my job. He's an accomplished writer. So I assume if he wanted to, he'd be doing it. He would write it himself — the way he wants to shoot and he wants to edit, so he takes those jobs himself. So I think I appreciate that he guides me, but doesn't try to do it for me." On Jumping Between Indie Films and Blockbusters, Movies and TV, and Screenwriting and Directing Across Koepp's Career "It's what keeps it interesting. I continue to like all kinds of movies. I'll see pretty much anything in the cinema. So I like to try my hand at writing them. And I have this theory that it's like lifting weights. You're supposed to exercise your muscles to the point of failure. I feel like I've tried to exercise my creative muscles across genres to the point of failure — and I have failed. So you find 'oh, I wish I could do that particular type of movie' — turns out I'm not that great at it. But that's what keeps it interesting. You have to continually try different things. And you have to stay in service to the idea. If you have an idea, you can't try to bend it into the kind of film you're comfortable with. You need to become comfortable with the kind of film that the idea demands." Presence opened in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, February 6, 2025.
Everyone has seen a TV show about renovating homes, buying real estate, blitzing backyards and building dream houses, even if they're not your preferred kind of viewing. But no one has watched an entry in the home renovation genre quite like The Curse, a spoof arriving this spring that gets Emma Stone (Cruella) and Nathan Fielder (The Rehearsal) playing a couple hosting their own home improvement series — and having some bad luck. Unsurprisingly, Fielder doesn't just star but also co-created, co-writes and co-directs. And, also to the astonishment of no one, the end result looks like far from your average series. A home makeover show, but eerie: that's the vibe in the just-dropped first teaser trailer for The Curse, complete with unsettling tunes to match. There's also Stone's opening line in the sneak peek at the ten-part series: "did you know you can put out fires with the sun?". Spoken with the cheery tone that's only ever used by people hosting TV shows, those 11 words are as disquieting as the score by the Safdie brothers' collaborator Oneohtrix Point Never. And, yes, not just the talent that made Good Time and Uncut Gems sound so unnerving but the sibling filmmakers behind them are also involved in The Curse. Benny Safdie (Oppenheimer) co-stars, co-created, co-writes and co-directs, with Josh Safdie an executive producer. Fielder and Stone play Asher and Whitney Siegel, who host a show on HGTV — American pay TV network Home & Garden Television — called Fliplanthropy. Newly married, they're trying to have a baby, but find their plans disrupted. Cue The Curse's title, obviously. [caption id="attachment_920385" align="alignnone" width="1920"] (L-R): Emma Stone as Whitney and Nathan Fielder as Asher in THE CURSE, Season 1. Photo Credit: Beth Garrabrant/A24/Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.[/caption] Benny Safdie plays their producer, with Barkhad Abdi (Little America), Corbin Bernsen (White House Plumbers) and Constance Shulman (Search Party) also featuring. Like everything almost everything of late, it seems — Close, Beau Is Afraid, You Hurt My Feelings, Past Lives, smash-hit Australian horror movie Talk to Me, fellow TV series Beef, the return of iconic Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense to cinemas, the Nicolas Cage-starring Dream Scenario — The Curse hails from A24. In Australia, it'll stream from Saturday, November 11 via Paramount+. Check out the first teaser trailer for The Curse below: The Curse will stream from Saturday, November 11 via Paramount+. Images: Beth Garrabrant and John Paul Lopez/A24/Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.
Victoria's Hot Chocolate Festival is back again this August. And it's just in time, too. To save Melburnians from this month's always-frosty weather, it's churning out 31 hot chocolate flavours over 31 days. Just like in previous years, the festival will be run across three locations: the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie, the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie in Bellbrae and the Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie. Eight different flavours will be served up each week, so make sure you plan your visit(s) carefully as to not miss out on the best. The menu is released weekly, but it already has plenty of options to make your mouth water. The Tim Tam caramel bomb turns caramel Tim Tams into a ball and serves it with a caramel hot chocolate, while the Devonshire kronut version features a berry hot chocolate topped with — you guessed it — a kronut. The Snickertini includes shots of Baileys and vodka, while the Dreamtime hot chocolate features lemon myrtle. All limited edition hot chocolates will be served with an extra shot of hot couverture chocolate and a giant handcrafted marshmallow. In past years, some of the highlights have arrived topped with fairy floss, melting chocolate discs and edible drinking cups — the perfect antidote to any winter blues. The chocolateries together creates over 6000 hot chocolates per year, so newcomers can trust they know their way around this winter-warmer. If exploring the festival and enjoying all the free chocolate tastings isn't enough to satisfy your sweet tooth, you can also book into a 45-minute tasting session at the Yarra Valley, Great Ocean Road and Mornington Peninsula stores. For $24 you'll be able to sample eight hot chocolates and make three of your own 'hot chocolate spoons' from over 50 ingredients to take home. The Hot Chocolate Festival runs daily between Sunday, August 1–Tuesday, August 31 at the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie, 1200 Great Ocean Road, Bellbrae; the Yarra Valley Chocolateire, 35 Old Healesville Road, Yarra Glen; and the Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie, 45 Cook Street, Flinders.
There are many ways to mark the winter solstice — from swimming naked in Tasmania at Dark Mofo (which is back, by the way) to catching the legendary Belgrave Lantern Festival. But, if your favourite way to warm up on the shortest day of the year involves copious amounts of excellent wine and good food, then the Yarra Valley's Shortest Lunch might be the way to go. For two days, thirteen small, family-run wineries will join forces to bring you tastings, eats and live music. They range from winemakers like Boat O'Craigo, who've been looking after the same plot of land for generations, to young, dynamic creators like Fin Wines, who are experimenting with new ways of doing things. All in all, more than 100 wines will be available for tasting. Meanwhile, menus will range from slow-cooked ragu on parmesan polenta and baked gnocchi in vodka sauce to sticky date pudding and house-made chocolate Florentine. Three types of tickets are on offer. The entry ticket at $35 buys you free tastings at all 13 wineries, plus a glass to keep. Pay another $35 for the wine and dine ticket, and you'll also get a meal voucher and a glass of wine. Or, go all out on the VIP ticket for $100, which gives you all the above as well as a bottle of wine. Book before Sunday, June 1, to score a 10% discount.
Look at the header. Are those outfits enough to make you want to see this show before you’ve even read anything about it? Probably, but jazzy parachute pants are just one facet of this high-voltage streetdance spectacular. Blaze is a hip-hop musical from West End choreographer Anthony van Laast, the man behind the moves of Mamma Mia! and Sister Act. Imagine Britain’s Got Talent or So You Think You Can Dance if everyone had an extraordinary amount of talent and actually could dance. Then add dizzying set designs by Es Devlin (who has the London 2012 closing ceremony and Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball tour on his set design C.V.), strobe lighting and music by Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Kanye West, David Guetta and Snoop Dogg. For Blaze's Australian tour the producers were looking to cast local talent to join the troupe. The show's Sydney leg will welcome Demi Sorano, self-taught b-girl and So You Think You Can Dance 2008 alumni.
Celebrate Mexican Independence Day in the heart of the city with great food, live music, and artwork. Despite being a world away from Mexico, Melbourne has some excellent Mexican cuisine aficionados, many of whom will be out in full force for the festivities. Grab a bite from the good folk at Mamasita, Paco’s Tacos, Mesa Verde, South American BBQ, Chilli’s Gourmet Mexican and Guzman y Gomez. Tacos, tostadas and tequila, sounds terrific! To get the party going, mariachi band Los Romanticos will take the Viva Mexico Stage, as will live salsa band Orchestra La 45, The Mexican Music Man & Sin Frontera Band, Mexican rock band Los Mas Altos and the traditional ceremony of ‘El Grito’ to celebrate Mexican Independence. In between sets, feel free to wander the markets filled with crafts and jewellery, as well as popping your head into The Atrium to browse the Mexican artwork display.
Horses have been admired for their majestic, athletic, and even mythical qualities from artists over centuries, and the NGV has decided it’s time to acknowledge this creature’s ongoing inspiration. From the winged Pegasus to the winning Phar Lap, these four-legged powerhouses have generated interest from artists not just over millennia, but across cultural divides, with artwork including gilded riding saddles from Japan to artwork featured in Sidney Nolan’s iconic Ned Kelly series. The exhibition will present over 250 pieces, including antiquities, major paintings, riding garments, saddles, sculptures, trophies and decorative arts. Artists featured in this vast exhibition include Goya, Rembrandt, Albrecht Dürer Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, John Brack, Frederick McCubbin and Jenny Watson, to name a few. Whether you’re fascinated by the pomp and pageantry of racing, the equine’s role in conflict and warfare, or their representation in ancient cultures, there’s sure to be some animal artwork that will pique your interest. Fittingly, the exhibition coincides with Melbourne’s Race That Stops The Nation. But you don’t need to place any bets here folks, this stunning exhibition is free.
It’s been a solid five years of non-stop national tours for Melbourne six-piece, Northeast Party House. Rather than taking any sort of break, they’ve decided to pack up their gear and embark on their first tours of the USA, UK and Europe in October. NPH’s ‘Later ‘Straya’ tour will be fanging it up and down the East Coast before their departure, and if it’s anything like their ‘Double Darts’ tour they smashed out earlier this year, it’s sure to be a doozy. The lads have spent a considerable amount of this year in the studio creating their follow up album to Any Given Weekend, and are using this opportunity to debut a few of their latest tracks in some of the biggest venues they’ve played at to date before the head off OS. If that wasn’t enough to get excited about, they have cherry picked some of their favourite Australian acts to join them for one more hurrah, including the likes of The Shakes, Gold Fields DJs and The Pretty Littles for their Melbourne stint. Check out their latest single ‘Perfect Lines’ and immediately catchy tracks like 'The Haunted' and send the boys off in style.
Melbourne Museum knows better than anyone that learning can be a heck of a lot of fun, and that a spot of vino can't hurt while you're at it. Their monthly after-hours event SmartBar provides plenty of insight into our natural world and the creatures that inhabit it. The incredibly (and obviously) intelligent people who work at the museum take the time to present fascinating talks on preservation and conservation of our national fauna in an informal setting. Covering topics such as taxidermy and extinction, you’re bound to go home with a few tips, tricks and decent amount of knowledge on the world as we know it. The adults-only events feature demos, drinks, talks and some digital media thrown in for good measure. Get along and get schooled in the best way possible.
White Cliffs is a rural town in New South Wales which used to be considered one of the most bountiful opal mining towns in the world. Now, opals are practically non-existent, but that doesn't stop White Cliffs inhabitants from toiling under unbearable heat in search of the colourful and elusive stone. Emerging independent documentary filmmaker and photographer Georgina Savage filmed her first feature documentary in White Cliffs, and the series Digging For Pineapples was shot during that process. Savage is drawn to small and remote communities and the stories she gathers from those that inhabit them. Digging For Pineapples examines both the harshness of Australia’s outback terrain but also the hopefulness of people who are unable to give up on the dream of finding that precious stone.
Celebrating feminism and the mighty off and onscreen power of ladies, Girls on Film Festival have created yet another outstanding program featuring women who kick some serious butt. Inspired by Riot Grrrl culture, GOFF brings together a three-day program of zines, live gigs and of course, stellar films (with a little activism thrown in for good measure). Films in this year’s program include cult classics, underrated gems and feminist favourites. Roller derby fans will get a kick out of the Drew Barrymore-directed Whip It and documentary In The Turn, or if soccer is more your jam, hit up British favourite Bend It Like Beckham. Classics like Thelma and Louise, Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion, and Desperately Seeking Susan will be making an appearance, and if you’re after some solid activism docos, check out Black Panther Woman and She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry. There are honestly too many great films to list here, so check out their program for more info.
A Royal Tenenbaums rollercoaster? A Life Aquatic submarine ride? A Grand Budapest Hotel cable car? Your wildest, most whimsical dreams are about to come to fruition; Wes Anderson has announced his plans to team up with Devo-co-founder and longtime Anderson collaborative composer Mark Mothersbaugh on their very own theme park. If you've watched a few Wes Anderson films, you would have heard Mothersbaugh's iconic scores — the man's worked on Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou to name a few. But the Devo legend is also an applauded artist who's releasing his own visual art book: Mark Mothersbaugh: Myopia. When Anderson's book foreword was revealed, so were the pair's theme park plans. "I hope to soon secure the means to commission the construction of an important and sizeable theme park to be conceived and designed entirely by Mark Mothersbaugh," Anderson wrote in the foreword . "For 40 years he has set about creating a body of work which amounts to his own Magic Kingdom, where the visitor is amused and frightened, often simultaneously." We're waiting for the finer details with baited breath, perhaps a ride on the Darjeeling Limited or a wild ride through the tunnels of the Fantastic Mr Fox? If Mothersbaugh's art is anything to go by, things are going to be a little weirder than we're used to with twee king Anderson. Here's one of Mothersbaugh's best Anderson score moments, just to get you squealing a little higher. https://youtube.com/watch?v=214w5Bh9mp4 Via Flavorwire.
Once again the Spirit of Jazz has come to inhabit us all during the first week of June for the Melbourne International Jazz Festival. The festival will be sprawled out all over the city, with events held in concert halls, arts venues, jazz clubs and throughout the city's streets. Now in its 17th year, the festival encourages all ages to find their groove and get down with a huge variety of events that will engage both jazz noobs and well established scatmen and women. Davi Sings Sinatra is sure to be a highlight for those who enjoy Ol’ Blue Eyes and The Great American Songbook. Robert Davi, an actor most noted for playing tough guys, will bring his swagger and classically trained pipes to St Kilda’s Palais Theatre for one night only. Here, you can expect classics such as 'I’ve Got The World On A String', 'Witchcraft' and 'Day In Day Out' pour from his lips like a smoky single malt. If jazz beckons you to get up and shake it loose, you can’t miss 774’s Swing Noir. Hosted by the effervescent Hilary Harper the evening will be filled with gypsy swing and local jazz heroes Ultrafox and Swingville getting everybody on the dancefloor. From there, the Swing Patrol instructors will teach you the classic steps of the charleston, and ABC’s dance diva DJ Miss Sugar Puss will be spinning seductive jazz throughout the night. Obviously there's plenty more to see and do at this year’s festival. With a range of free concerts, modern masters, club sessions, family events, artist workshops and films on show, you'll be able to rival the jazz knowledge of Howard Moon in no time. Melbourne International Jazz Festival is running in various venues across the city from May 30 till June 8. Check out the full program on their website.
Well well well, it's not every day a band gets to perform four times over three days at the same venue for an album release. Due to popular demand, Ball Park Music have added an extra show on Monday May 5, so if you sadly missed tickets to their earlier gigs, you're in luck. The Brisbane five-piece are raring to unleash their third album, Puddinghead, onto new audiences. Having said that, we're certain they'll be playing their indie pop rock gems that fans have come to know and love them for. Puddinghead was recorded and produced independently in some pretty sweaty conditions, but a lot of dedication and some excellent guidance from Grammy-nominated mixing engineer Tony Hoffer (Beck, The Kooks, M83) has lead to another strong record. The first single 'She Only Loves Me When I'm There' is classic BPM — it's emotive and crashing and catchy as hell. Get excited and get amongst it. https://youtube.com/watch?v=zEu0CZp7DUs
Design nerds, assemble. Get your creative geek on at this year’s Sex Drugs and Helvetica, where six different projects from local and international designers are explained in glorious detail. From Cheryl Heller, who created a Master’s program in Design for Social Innovation at NYC’s School of Visual Arts, to James Greenfield, who reimagined the brand and digital presence of Airbnb, you’ll be learning from some of the most innovative and savvy minds in the industry. Other guest speakers you can look forward to include Nick Cox (co-founder of Projects of Imagination), Zoë Pollitt (director and co-founder of Eskimo), Ben Miles (creative director at Interbrand Sydney), and Daniel Banik (co-founder of August). On top of this, this is the first year that Sex, Drugs and Helvetica are running masterclasses as part of their program. Here’s your chance to get the inside scoop from your industry heroes. Like all industry events, the day will wind down with some good old fashioned meeting and greeting, so arrive with some questions up your sleeve for your chance to learn from the best.
Using sound as her artistic weapon of choice, New Zealand-born, Brussels-based artist Kate McIntosh playfully balances experiment and entertainment. Using everyday objects to build up her soundscapes, McIntosh explores the notion of being a part of a crowd and also being an individual within that crowd, as sounds of paper being ripped and glasses toppling over are recorded and played back during the performance. There is an undeniable scientific element to McIntosh’s art form, as she gathers sound like evidence in her exploration of humanity and togetherness. However, it’s not so cut-and-dry, as her work contains an off-beat humour that draws in her audience. McIntosh is a founding member of the artist-run production and research platform SPIN, based in Brussels. It very well could be a while before we see her around these parts again, so dive head first into this sonic experience.
If you like your fashion and homewares to be eco-friendly and handcrafted, well then do we have the market place for you. The Royal Exhibition Building will host The Wild Collective’s latest event displaying gorgeous artwork, acoustic music, a woodland environment to wander in and a pop-up pub for when it’s time to wind down. Whether you’re after some delightful soy candles, some pretty illustrations to adorn your walls, or a sick skateboard for your daily commute, this market will provide you with the goods. There are also quite a lot of stalls selling some adorable childrens garb, so if you or those nearest and dearest have little tackers this could be a sweet spot to pick up a prezzie or two. The Wild Collective's foodie offerings are pretty splendid too; hit up Boho Blends and Trailer Food for a spot of lunch, or if you’re a little bit more 'on the go' swing buy Luxbite for something sweet and Those Girls for a damn good iced tea.
Love and life are two areas in which many artists can't help exploring throughout their career within their medium of choice — and Dagmar Cyrulla’s no exception. Paintings featured in her latest exhibition, Amour de Vie, delve into these themes with a quiet intimacy that is both visually stunning and emotionally arresting. Cyrulla’s portraits may place her characters in ordinary situations, but she's able to convey shared experiences effectively in subtle ways. Cyrulla has recently experienced important shifts within her own family dynamic that lead her to create work that explores relationships and the emotions they stir. “My aim is to open an opportunity for self-questioning by viewers,” she explains. “Each painting reflects my love of people and their stories, including father-daughter relationships, power relationships, relationships to parents, being and having a role model, and sibling rivalry.” Along with Cyrulla’s paintings, the exhibition will feature a new song inspired by her painting A New Day, written by songwriting duo Drew Schapper and Chris Pattenden, aka Artist Proof.
Escape to the South of France with a visit to this chic bistro located in the heart of Richmond. Headed up by chef Peter Roddy, Noir is a charming neighbourhood gem with a buzzing energy and seriously good French fare. Kick things off with a few oysters ($5 each) and a French 75 ($24) before tucking into entrees like chicken liver parfait ($20), beef tartare ($19) and Mooloolaba prawn tortellini with shellfish bisque ($24). For mains, expect dishes like caramelised Atlantic scallops with squid ink and cuttlefish risotto ($36), confit duck with cider potato fondant and spiced lentils ($40) and scotch fillet with frites and sauce au poivre (peppercorn sauce) for $45. Or, opt for the ever-changing tasting menu displayed on the blackboard, priced at $80 per person. While Noir is known for its contemporary (and fairly pricey) French dishes, it does have one affordable feast that's hard to pass up. The super-popular seafood lunch special will see you sitting down to two courses, plus a glass of top-quality wine, for just $45. If you've got a little time (and a few extra dollars) to spare, you can bump that up to two hours of free-flowing wine for an additional $30 per person. For drinks, there's a concise cocktail list and some local beers on offer. When it comes to wine, though, you can expect a lengthy list of Aussie and French drops, including a few amber and skin-contact vinos.
When Michael Crichton put pen to paper and conjured up a modern-day dinosaur-filled amusement park, he couldn't have known exactly what he'd done. The author easily imagined the story making its way to the big screen, because the Jurassic Park novel started out as a screenplay. He could've also perceived that a whole film franchise could follow, and that folks would be quoting the movies for decades. And yet, we're guessing that he didn't predict the latest development: a recreation of Jurassic World, the fourth movie in the series, out of Lego. Australians will soon be able to wander through and peer at more than 50 dinosaurs, props and scenes from the 2015 movie that have all been recreated with the popular plastic bricks. They'll be on display at Jurassic World by Brickman, an exhibition that'll hit the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from Thursday, April 1–Monday, May 31, then tour the rest of the country. Exactly which other cities Jurassic World by Brickman will head to, and when, hasn't been revealed as yet — but there is plenty for Melburnians and Aussies elsewhere to look forward to. More than six million Lego blocks have been used in the exhibition, to create the four-metre-tall park gates, the lab where the dinosaurs are genetically engineered, those instantly recognisable jeeps, a petting zoo, a heap of creatures and more. Lego dinosaurs are obviously the main attraction, and this event is going big. There'll be a life-sized brachiosaurus that weighs more than two tonnes, a huge tyrannosaurus rex, two life-sized velociraptors (Blue and Delta), and everything from a stegosaurus to a triceratops, too. You'll see some in a baby dinosaur enclosure, encounter some on the loose, and learn how to track them over the exhibition's recreation of Isla Nublar (while using your imagination a whole heap, obviously). If it all sounds rather sizeable, Jurassic World by Brickman will be the largest Lego experience in Australia. And if getting a closer look at Jurassic World sounds a little familiar, you might remember the non-Lego exhibition that hit Melbourne back in 2016. Lego aficionados will also be able to get building while they're there, with 2.5 million bricks to play with. Obviously, this'll be a family-friendly affair, so expect to have plenty of small dinosaur fans for socially distanced company. Jurassic World by Brickman makes its world premiere in Melbourne and, after hitting up the rest of Australia, will also tour globally. And if you're wondering when you'll next see a Jurassic World flick on the big screen, Jurassic World: Dominion — the followup to 2018's Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom — is due to release in June 2022. Jurassic World by Brickman will display at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from Thursday, April 1–Monday, May 31, before touring the rest of the country — with other stops around Australia yet to be announced. Tickets for the Melbourne run go on sale at 10am AEDT on Thursday, March 11.
Craft and design come together in this two-day conference featuring designers and curators from both here and abroad. Each one of the 25 guests speaking as part of Parallels is, in their own way, working in a realm where craft and design meet. In an increasingly industrialised world, where does the value lie in home made creations? The general consensus is their rising significance shows no sign of slowing down, as commercial design and crafted objects look to each other for inspiration, and dare we say it, in some cases are even beginning to resemble each other. The talks are aimed at both those immersed in the craft or design industries, as well as those who have a keen interest in the area. The influence of technology, sustainability, digital connectivity and globalisation will also be examined. Get ready for a series of informative, inspirational and provocative talks revealing the shifting priorities and emerging opportunities for Australian craft and design.
Winter has only officially just arrived in Melbourne, but the folks at the city's Royal Botanic Gardens, plus the crew behind A Day on the Green, are already thinking about spring and how to make the most of it. When the flowers start blooming again in 2024, that's when the leafy venue will first play host to a brand-new outdoor gig series in leafy surroundings: Live at the Gardens, which'll premiere this year across two November weekends. Roundhouse Entertainment, the team that've made A Day on the Green such a hit, are also part of this new event, as is Mushroom Group. The details are light so far, but this won't just be a one-and-done show. After its November stint, Live at the Gardens already has plans for to return in March 2025, then to become an ongoing event. The debut lineup hasn't yet been revealed, but organisers promise that it's coming soon. Whoever takes to the stage, they'll be doing so while 5000 punters watch from the lawns of the Observatory Precinct. As well as tunes and the scenic surroundings, the event will include dining options showcasing local vendors, plus drinks, with the specifics there also still to be unveiled. "We are thrilled to launch Live at the Gardens, a one-of-a-kind music festival, creating an experience that celebrates music, nature and community," said Roundhouse Entertainment Director Michael Newton. "The team at Roundhouse are honoured to have the opportunity to work with the renowned Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne to stage this new event allowing people to enjoy live music under the stars, in a beautiful garden setting. We look forward to announcing an eclectic mix of performers in the coming weeks." "We are delighted to partner with industry experts Roundhouse Entertainment to bring Live at the Gardens to life. This exciting collaboration seamlessly blends the stunning natural beauty of Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne with world-class entertainment, to create an unforgettable concert experience that celebrates music, nature and the vibrant culture of Melbourne. We look forward to welcoming nature and music lovers to what will undoubtedly be one of the year's most memorable events," added Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Acting Director and Chief Executive Chris Russell. Live at the Gardens will debut in November 2024 at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne. We'll update you with lineups and more details when they're announced — head to the event website for further information in the interim.
Maybe you first heard of Peloton when US President Joe Biden took office, with his use of the company's technology-enabled equipment giving rise to questions about its potential White House security risks. Perhaps you've seen the mocking ad created by Ryan Reynolds' Aviation American Gin, or the Saturday Night Live spoof. Or, you could just really like expensive additions to your home gym setup, or getting guided through your workout routine by an instructor without having to leave the house. Whichever fits, Australians will soon be able to get their hands on the brand's indoor bikes — and, as of this week, you can now take part in its streamed classes as well. Back in March, the company announced plans to launch Down Under this year — and it's currently in the process of doing just that. First up: the Peloton app, which Australians can download now. It's where you'll find the company's popular workout content, including via a free trial for the next 90 days. After that, you can pay $16.99 per month to keep accessing its at-home exercise sessions via a digital subscription. On offer: instructor-led classes, motivational tracks and curated playlists, with the latter featuring the likes of Beyoncé and The Beatles. The sessions cover cycling, running, strength training, high-intensity interval training, yoga, barre, pilates, dance cardio, bootcamp and meditation. Time-wise, they span from five to 60 minutes in length and, in terms of skill, range from beginner to advanced. And if you'd like an all-access membership for your entire household — because your partner and/or housemates are keen, too — that'll cost $59 per month. Next, from Wednesday, July 14, Peloton will be roll out its physical equipment in Australia. Presumably, it won't be doing so by using its controversial 2019 TV commercial, which received considerable backlash and gave rise to the aforementioned parodies. Australians will be able to choose from two Peloton bikes to begin with, and neither comes cheap. The Peloton Bike will cost $2895, while the Bike+ will set you back $3695. If you're wondering what the difference is, the latter comes with a bigger screen that can rotate 360 degrees, and with a better sound system — because connecting to the Peloton app and streaming its workouts while you're hitting the pedals is all part of the process. The Peloton app includes material that doesn't require the brand's equipment, so you can give it a try without breaking your budget. Peloton is also setting up physical showrooms in Sydney and Melbourne, should you want to give its bikes a test run in person. The brand also makes treadmills, although when they'll be available in Australia hasn't yet been announced. Now that Peloton has arrived Down Under, it has set up shop in its fifth country worldwide, after the US, the UK, Canada and Germany. The Peloton app is now available in Australia, and the brand's bikes will be available from Wednesday, July 14. For further details, keep an eye on the company's website.
In the opulent palace of a merciless dictator, four women exchange pleasantries as civil war draws near. There's the First Lady, her best friend, a foreign journalist and a translator, each of whom bring their own unique perspective to this operatic tale about the perilous nature of power. First performed in Edinburgh more than a decade and a half ago, Splendour was written by playwright Abi Morgan, whose resume has since been bolstered by critically acclaimed screenplays such as Shame, Suffragette and The Iron Lady. Yet even in this early work, it would seem her feminist credentials were on full display. The Red Stitch production, which marks the play's Australian premiere, will be directed by Jenny Kemp, and stars company regulars Rosie Lockhart and Olga Makeeva alongside newcomers Belinda McClory and Olivia Monticciolo. The March 31 performance will also be followed by a Q&A.
Imagine hopping on the train each morning, fitting your workout in while you travel, and then watching the latest news on a big-screen TV. Then, imagine jumping in the carriage on the way home, grabbing a beer on board and blissing out in a noise-cancelling armchair. They're some of the ideas included in Germany's new 'train of the future', a concept that's being explored by state-owned railway company Deutsche Bahn. Their Ideas Train also features a dedicated gaming zone filled with consoles, documentary and live sports screenings, a vending machine dispensing baked goods, brews on tap, a coffee cube serving up speciality sips, and digital fitness coaches to keep your exercise as on track as the train. Dedicated spaces for families and groups travelling together, dine-and-work benches with integrated tablet shelves, laptop pods and a kids' play area ensure every type of commuter is catered for. It's all part of DB Regio's attempt to adapt to the new transport landscape, given that autonomous cars are zooming towards becoming a reality. Indeed, from Elon Musk's rockets, moving hotels and hyperloop system, to self-driving buses, flying cars and solar-powered trains, getting from A to B is set to look quite different in the coming years. Here's hoping that getting to work like this is included. Images: Deutsche Bahn.
The creative possibilities of what you can muster up with a 3D printer are appear endless — red carpet dresses, working computers, casual weapons — but how do they work? The highly creative and tech-savvy designers from Studio Batch are dropping into Colour Box Studio to hand over their knowledge and lead a class on the basics of 3D printing and its applications. During this highly sought-after workshop you'll get to handle a range of 3D-printed objects, from metal to plastics and ceramics. You'll then get clued in to how Studio Batch use their 3D printers to produce their digitally-crafted pieces, and understand how a blue sky concept in your head can be quickly realised using this newfangled technology. You’re welcome to bring a notebook to jot down your days of learning, and everyone goes home with their own piece of 3D-printed jewellery. Places for the Wednesday night class have sold out, so Colour Box Studios have decided to release tickets for a second workshop on the Thursday. Better get in quick sticks.
Everyone's favourite half-giant of few words is coming to Australia to host a series of Game of Thrones-themed rave parties. Kristian Nairn, who plays the simple and loveable Hodor, is a legit house DJ — minds are boggled as to why this sort of party hasn't been thrown sooner. Thankfully touring company Falcona have jumped on the house-loving GoT favourite and we can party like we've finally found the three-eyed raven. As the name suggests, Rave of Thrones will be a series of GoT-themed parties in large-scale Australian venues — and dress ups are mandatory. Break out the faux fur, your finest armour or dye your hair silver-white; just leave your Valerian steel at the door. We're expecting to see Starks dancing with Lannisters, Tyrells and Tullys sharing mead, while Wildlings and White Walkers unite forces in the name of rave. These parties are likely to attract a larger crowd then the Red and the Purple wedding combined (and will presumably be way less murdery), so make sure you snap up some tickets faster than one of Ygritte's arrows heading for Jon Snow's heart. Nairn has recently been in Melbourne for Oz Comic-Con with Daniel Portman (aka Podrick Payne), so we're thanking the Old Gods and the New that he'll be returning to us shortly. Nairn will be joined by audio visual artist Ego who will be cranking out GoT-themed projections, and the night will include "surprise guests and garnishings" — we're not sure exactly what that entails just yet. HODOR! https://youtube.com/watch?v=cxjw-w-V5k4
If you’re looking for the next new thing in craft beer, don’t read on, because sour beer is not it. It’s old hat, by now. Hundreds of years old. Thousands, even. We just never knew about it until now. I met with Joel Connelly, director of Sydney Craft Beer Week, to talk about beers, what makes them turn sour and why we’re likely to see an imminent emergence of this strange brew. “Australians are still really into ‘hoppy beer’," says Connelly, "but the thing in the US that’s been massive is sour.” Given that our fledgling craft beer scene takes hints from everything American, it seems safe to assume we'll be seeing more and more of this 'new' style. “Sour’s coming back now, but it’s old. It’s super old,” he says. So what exactly is this traditional method of brewing that brings to mind a hops-driven IPA mixed with a bagful of sour worms? And, more importantly, why should I want to drink such an odd concoction? After chatting with such a beer guru, and giving the tart elixir a go myself, I think I know. Historically, all beers used to be sour Sour beer, also known as 'wild beer', has been around since time immemorial, and has a longer history than the crisp lagers we’re so used to in our pubs. “Sour’s an old tradition. All beers used to be sour, before people figured out how to cultivate yeast,” Connelly says. They're commonplace in Europe, from Belgian lambics to Berliner Weisse beers. It’s not just a traditional style; it’s the only way you used to be able to get beer. The sour flavour is achieved through the use of wild bacteria during the fermentation process. Instead of cooking up an ale in a sterile steel vat, sour beer is allowed to ferment naturally through the use of bacteria like Lactobacillus and Brettanomyces — bacteria avoided like the plague by regular brewers. These yeasts bring with them a whole new subset of flavours that aren’t present in most beers you can find on tap. The bacteria are brought into production in a variety ways. The traditional Belgian method is to ferment in wooden barrels that will encourage the yeast to enter the brew. Open air fermentation is becoming more popular, too, and uses the wild bacteria present in the environment to alter the beer. Different still is the method of simply adding more fruit to kick a secondary fermentation into action. Each method brings with it a strange new taste that is beginning to change the way beer drinkers in this country are viewing their brews. It’s not an easy process, though. “A beer, from start to finish, you can have packaged and ready to go in two to three weeks, but souring beer takes a long time, it’s months of investment,” says Connelly. There's more to the flavour profile than the name suggests Once you can get it out of your head that your beer tastes so different to any other you’ve had before, it’s incredibly easy to appreciate the fact that it doesn’t. Take, for example, the Doctor’s Orders Electrolyte Forte, a zesty Imperial Gose. It hits your lips and you can taste a slightly more savoury note. As it rolls over your tongue, however, the flavour is all bright fruits paired with a hint of coriander, and it isn’t until you swallow that the tart, sour end of the spectrum is felt. At that time, however, it’s the perfect flavour to have — savoury, then sweet, and then all topped off with a sour sucker punch to the face. It’s intricate and delicate, and unbelievably refreshing. It’s not all about the sour, though. “It doesn’t have to be a full-on sour experience, you can just have a beer that’s slightly tart,” says Connelly. Not all beers are fermented for the same period of time, or with the same fruits, so every single batch is different. A beer might be soured with only a few added extras, and not for as long, so won’t taste like a Warhead. Instead, it might tread that border between crisp and tart, and simply make you think about what you’re drinking. In this way, sour beer is a lot more like wine. Because the process can’t be controlled to the same extent as mass-produced lagers, each batch is like a wine vintage — the same flavour combos, but with different aromas, bodies and intricacies. Like any refreshing beer, it’s meant to be consumed anywhere, anytime. Where to pucker up in Australia Most sour beers you’ll find at the moment are imports from America, given that the sour scene is so new to Australia. However, more and more local sours are popping up all the time. The Royal Albert Hotel in Surry Hills stocks a slew of Australian sours on a regular rotation, while Melbourne’s Slowbeer in Richmond is kicking around some killers. Aussie craft brewers are dipping their toes in sour, too. Western Australia’s Feral Brewing is pumping out the Watermelon Warhead annually, and Bright Brewery in Victoria is leading the sour charge with their Pink Framboise. There are still plenty more to come, with some brewers bringing out beers that tread the fine line between hoppy and sour, like Modus Operandi’s savoury MOFOS (Modus Operandi Funky Orange Saison). Sour is coming for you Although we’re a country that loves clean, crisp lagers and hops-driven ales, there is definitely room for beer’s sour ancestor in the craft beer market. According to Connelly, “People are starting to expect different beer, starting to expect more from it, and the more people’s palates expect from beer, the more open they’ll be to sour.” With events like Sydney Craft Beer Week's Into the Wild, local beer drinkers have more and more opportunity to taste without committing to a six-pack. The open minds of beer nerds, newcomers and everyone in between are being exposed to new varieties of beer every day, and, given this, we’re likely to see an increase of consumption of the oldest variety there is. Sour beer is not something to be feared; it’s something to be revered, like an eccentric grandfather teaching about the good old days. It’s refreshing, it’s delicious, and there’s more coming soon. So pucker up. Top image: Morgan Walker.
Ask any true Melbourne burger fiend and they're sure to have some fond, cheesy memories of the double patty smash creation from late Collingwood institution Rockwell and Sons. The long-running diner broke more than a few hearts when it shut up shop last year, and Chef and Co-Owner Casey Wall's famed beef burger bid farewell. But, you can thank your lucky lockdown stars, because the legend is back in our lives once again; at least for a limited time. For the next month, sibling venue Bar Liberty — which has transformed into a bottle shop during stage four restrictions — is slinging DIY kits so you can recreate the double smash patty at home. Or, whip up a vegetarian-friendly black bean alternative, if that's more your speed. Available in limited amounts Tuesday to Sunday, the Rockwell and Sons at-home burger packs have been flying out the door, offering Melburnians a glimmer of goodness as they wade through this current stretch of Stay At Home orders. [caption id="attachment_780954" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dominic Xavier[/caption] Each solo-serve smash pack clocks in at $15, featuring two uncooked O'Connor beef patties, a couple of Kraft Singles, a Martin's potato bun and some of Rockwell's special sauce. The vego version is similar, but teams two black bean patties with 'jazz' sauce and pickled green tomatoes. The website's even got handy step-by-step photo instructions showing how to prepare your burger feast — from cooking those patties to assembling the bun. When you order online for in-store pick up, you'll also find a selection of add-ons, including creamy mac 'n' cheese ($9), Bar Liberty bottled negronis ($13) and four-packs of the bar's collaboration Table Beer made with Hop Nation ($20). And of course, there's a stack of interesting vino available on premises at the pop-up bottle shop. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, a reminder that as the burgers are pick-up only, you can only get them if you live within five kilometres of Bar Liberty, in line with the current stage four restrictions. The Rockwell and Sons At-Home Burger Packs are available Tuesday to Sunday for a limited time, for pick up from Bar Liberty, 234 Johnston Street, Fitzroy. Pre-order online via the website. Images: Dominic Xavier
A big splash of colour has just been added to your daily commute, with six of the city's trams transforming into giant — and literally moving — artworks. Hitting the city's public transport network for the latest edition of Melbourne Art Trams, they're also breaking new ground this year. For the first time, the trams are decked out with designs solely from Victorian First Nations artists. As initially announced earlier in the year, four of 2021's trams feature art from creatives who identify as Traditional Owners of Victoria, while two trams showcase pieces from First Peoples artists who live in the state. The travelling canvases cover a broad range of themes, including environmental ecologies and caring for Country, journeying and family, and the history and cultural heritage of First Peoples in the state. Each decked-out tram will do the rounds for the next 12 months. The first art tram to start rolling around Melbourne features work by Aunty Zeta Thomson (Wurundjeri/Yorta Yorta), an Elder, artist, cultural teacher and advocate. Called Mookies around the watering hole, it can be seen from today, Friday, May 21, on the 5, 6, 16, 58 and 72 tram routes — with 'mookie' meaning spirit in Yorta Yorta. Thomson's design was chosen from more than 60 expressions of interest, alongside pieces by Deanne Gilson (Wadawurrung), Thomas Marks (Wotjobaluk/Gunaikurnai), Aunty Rochelle Patten (Dhudhuroa/Wemba Wemba/Yorta Yorta), Jarra Karalinar Steel (Boonwurrung/Wemba Wemba) and Ray Thomas (Brabrawooloong Gunnai). From Monday, May 24, three more art trams will go into circulation, featuring Steel's iilk (eel) on the 48 and 109 routes, Thomas' Djeetgun Dreaming on the 70 and 75 trams, and Patten's March of the Ants on the 58 and 59. Then, come Monday, May 31, Marks' Walking on my Father's Country will hit the 6 and 19 line, and Gilson's Karringalabil Bundjil Murrup, Manna Gum Tree (The Creation Tree of Knowledge) will roll around the 3, 3a, 64 and 67 routes. If you've noticed that the trams are hitting the tracks earlier than usual, their timing coincides with the new Rising festival — the event that's merging Melbourne International Arts Festival and arts all-nighter White Night, and starts on Wednesday, May 26. Melbourne Art Trams is a collaboration between Rising, Creative Victoria, Yarra Trams and Public Transport Victoria, allowing local artists submit their own original tram-inspired designs — and has run as part of the Melbourne International Arts Festival in previous years. The first of Melbourne's 2021 art trams hits the tracks from Friday, May 21, with the rest of the fleet joining them on Monday, May 24 and Monday, May 31. For further details, head to the Rising website. Images: Aunty Zeta Thomson and her tram design 'Mookies around the watering hole'.
Dessert fiends love Christmas. If you have a sweet tooth, December 25 is just as exciting for the treats as for the presents. And since 2017, celebrating the occasion with something sugary and edible has also included Gelato Messina. That's when it launched its own version of a certain quintessential Australian dish: the trifle. In 2023, The Christmas Coma will return again — and this one is a blast from the past. Messina is throwing it back to its first-ever version of the dessert by bringing it back this year. Trifles are already about layers, but this one just earned a few more that aren't in the bowl. So, 2023's Christmas Coma will once again feature level upon level of everything that is good about Christmas — but instead of being soggy and slightly regrettable, this one will have you licking the glass container. What's in it? Well, Messina is going with strawberry and marsala jelly, vanilla chantilly cream and raspberry swiss rolls, as well as vanilla custard gelato, blood peach sorbet and passionfruit gel. There's also raspberry meringue, plus chocolate versions of cherries on top that come stuffed with amarena cherry ganache. The trifle will come with some Messina brandy custard, too, to douse all over the mess. And, it all serves 20–30 (or less if you really commit). All of the above is available in a Christmas Coma mega pack, which can be pre-ordered from Wednesday, November 1 — with times varying depending on your state, as the gelato chain has does with its specials now. Accordingly, folks in Queensland and the ACT are able to purchase at 9am AEDT, then Victorians at 9.15am, with New South Wales customers split across three times depending on the store (from 9.30–10am). You'll then be able to pick up your Christmas Coma between Thursday, December 21–Sunday, December 24, all within regular store opening hours — and from all Gelato Messina stores across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. It comes in a Messina cooler bag and, if you keep it in there all sealed up, can survive for up to one hour. In each of the last few years, the trifle sold out ridiculously fast, so we suggest you don't wait on this one. Gelato Messina's 2023 Christmas Coma will be available to order from Wednesday, November 1. Head to the Messina website for further details.
When Patti Smith tells you to put your hands up and feel your fucking freedom, it's pretty difficult not to oblige. And, when you take a second to look around at the lights, gums and five stages at Tygarah Tea Tree Farm (which somehow was not a swamp despite all the area's recent rain), you realise Bluesfest 2017 is a pretty good place to do it. Of course, how you feel your festival freedom is up to you. This year, the five-day Easter long weekend festival, gave punters the opportunity to skitter from Courtney Barnett to NAS, sing along with their dads at The Doobie Brothers, feel some high note tingles during Gallant's set and join an audience-wide line dance with New Orleans eight-piece brass band The Soul Rebels. That's not to mention Patti's two sets (we're sure that everyone who saw her play Horses in full on Friday came back for her acoustic set on Saturday), a jazz orgy from the always-great Trombone Shorty and Neil Finn closing out the festival with some Crowded House on Monday. We did all of this, but we also decided to find our freedom by way of food. This is pretty easy at Bluesfest — most of the nosh on offer is delicious and, better yet, comes from local producers and eateries. As always, the offering was vast and dietaries were well catered for. Even if you weren't there this year, it's likely a lot of these eateries will make a return appearance at this year's Splendour in the Grass, and many of them can be found around Byron and the Northern Rivers area at other times of the year. Here are some of the best things we demolished during the festival. MELLAWACH FROM YAMAN Gozleme is generally a staple of the festival diet, but at Bluesfest, it's all about mellawach. But that's no reason to be disappointed — the Yemeni fried bread is possibly even better than its Turkish counterpart. Get it stuffed with spinach and feta (and served with pureed tomato, zhug and a boiled egg) or, for eating on the run between stages, you can get it all thrown in a wrap. Yaman do catering for festivals and markets around the area, and have just opened a restaurant in Mullumbimby. TEMPURA VEGGIE BOWL FROM FEDERAL DOMA CAFE Bluesfest is a long festival, and you can't survive on fried bread for the whole five days. But these Japanese bowls are another story. The veggie tempura (also available with salmon or teriyaki chicken) comes with brown rice, leafy greens and a sesame dressing, and it was one of the best things we ate at the festival. The stall is run by Federal Doma Cafe, which is worth a visit in its own right — the drive out to Federal from Byron is lovely and the food is worth hunting down outside of festival time. A DOUGHIE FROM BYRON BAY ORGANIC DOUGHNUTS Look, we're not saying this is the reason we go to Bluesfest year after year, but we're not saying it's not. These balls of dough are about as legendary as the festival itself. Like all popular eating establishments, the line can get really, really long — on Friday night it was at least 30 people deep. But you've gotta do it. For future festivals, we recommend going around lunchtime, grabbing a coffee and scoffing one of these bad boys (in caramel, chocolate, blackberry or plain) while they're still warm. Byron Bay Organic Doughnuts also regularly appear at markets in Byron, Bangalow, Brunswick Heads, Mullumbimby and Lennox Head, just FYI. LANGOS FROM LANGOS HUT How good can bread with cheese and sour cream really be? Well, pretty bloody good. Langos is a Hungarian style of fried flatbread topped with various condiments — sort of like a personal pizza, but much simpler. This is a good one if your tummy's feeling a little fragile from the night before — it's plain, but it's bready, chewy and savoury and will fill you up for a few hours. VEGAN GLUTEN FREE PASTA FROM THAT ARANCINI GUY When you've got one or more dietary requirements, you're pretty used to eating hot chips and self-supplied rice cakes at festivals. Luckily, festival food has evolved way beyond meat and wheat, and Bluesfest is certainly no exception. That Arancini Guy covered off all of our own/our mates' dietaries in one fell swoop — this lil' bowl of pesto pasta is not only vegan, but gluten-free as well. Plus, they bring their own parmesan wheel to the festival, so you can also get spaghetti straight outta the cheese wheel if there are no intolerances holding you back. These guys are actually based in Melbourne and are regulars at festivals and markets around Victoria. FALAFEL FROM FALAFEL & KEBABS BYRON BAY Every festival needs a good falafel — and while this one from Falafel & Kebabs wasn't the best falafel we've ever had, it did the trick nonetheless. The falafels were hot and crunchy, and they even have gluten-free wraps. But perhaps we've just got high standards because we know Orgasmic Food (one of Australia's best falafel purveyors) is only a few kilometres away. Someone start a petition for them to come to Bluesfest next year. MASALA DOSA FROM DOSA HEAVEN Future Bluesfest tip: walk past the potato spiral tent (there's always one...) and proceed to find potato of a different kind. Arguably the best way to eat potato at Bluesfest is when it's ensconced in a paper-thin Indian crepe and served with coconut chutney. Dosa Heaven regularly makes appearances at the markets at Murwillumbah and up on the Gold Coast too. A FLAT WHITE FROM BUNCOFFEE No Bluesfest weekend could go by without a visit to the coffee tent. Somehow the Byron-based BunCoffee crew, in their fifth year at the festival, managed to knock out copious cups of coffee each day (and night) and still make each one taste good.
Founded in 2013 by distiller Philip Moore and coffee enthusiast Tom Baker, Mr Black has become a go-to for Australians looking to create bar-quality espresso martinis at home. Now, the distiller and coffee roaster is making things even easier by launching a new range of espresso martinis in ready-to-drink cans. These canned cocktails have been three years in the making, with Mr Black trialing 156 different recipes, two production methods and three canning technologies to create their newest product. Each can contains arabica coffee, Australian distilled vodka and Mr Black coffee liqueur, and is charged with nitrogen in order to give you the frothy head of a real espresso martini. All you need to do is shake, pour and maybe add a couple of coffee beans to the top if you're really trying to enjoy the full espresso martini experience. Canned and bottled cocktails have become an increasingly common trend in the past couple years, with many local bars also getting on board during Australia's lockdowns. Mr Black joins the likes of Kahlua, Lexington Hill and Curatif in offering canned espresso martinis, distinguishing itself with the fan-favourite taste of the brand's coffee liquor. The on-the-go cocktails have been launched just in time for warmer weather and the rolling back of restrictions in many states, allowing espresso martini fans the opportunity to bring the caffeinated cocktail with them on a picnic, to a dinner party or away on a trip without needing to pack several bottles of spirits. You can find Mr Black's canned espresso martinis online, as well as in Liquorland, First Choice, Vintage Cellars and independent liquor stores. The cans come in a four pack of 200-millilitre cans which will set you back $34.99; however, if you purchase via the Mr Black website, you can can nab ten percent off your order by using the discount code MRB10 at checkout. For more information about Mr Black's espresso martini cans, and to nab ten percent off your order by using the discount code MRB10 at checkout, head to the Mr Black website. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Since the dawn of time, we've cooked over an open flame. Yet through the centuries, a host of cultures have developed their own way of doing things. Forming part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival's Special Events program, BBQs of the World is your chance to get a taste of barbecued goodness from varied corners of the globe. Featuring a diverse array of flavours, techniques and skills, these tantalising highlights will spoil visitors for choice. Get stuck into spicy Cambodian skewers or discover how communities from West Africa get the BBQ rocking. Then, it's time to explore churrasco from Argentina and Brazil alongside slow-cooked brisket from the US. To complement your meaty feast, there'll be a huge range of sauces, dips, marinades and chilli oils, ensuring you can create your ideal bite. Plus, MasterChef's Kishwar Chowdhury will swing by to run a live cooking demonstration while guiding you through the must-taste flavours of the day. Held in the fascinating surrounds of Dandenong Market on Sunday, March 30, the cuisine is paired with several compelling cultural encounters. Expect rhythmic African drum performances and interactive dance workshops with One Spirit Africa, a high-energy Latin drumming workshop by Speranza Entertainment and live dances by Maidens of Polynesia showcasing the traditions of Tonga, Fiji and Samoa. Finally, this feast is a family affair, with free face painting and roving entertainment for the kids.
Summer won't last forever. So, we best take advantage while it's still here and head to outdoor bars, pubs and restaurants for sun-drenched days filled with good food, chilled spritzes and our favourite people. To help you find the best outdoor Melbourne spots where you can enjoy a few rounds of summery spritzes, we've teamed up with Aperol (naturally). Head to any of these joints for al fresco fun. Just make sure you grab your shades before heading out. [caption id="attachment_800335" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julia Sansone[/caption] DOM'S SOCIAL CLUB This multi-level pizzeria and bar is a CBD favourite for multiple reasons, but we are all about the rooftop. Yes, downstairs, you can sip on the same Italian-inspired cocktails and eat the same woodfired pizzas, but you don't get the city views and natural sunlight found up on the deck. Head through the hidden door on Swanston Street and make your way up the stairs to find Dom's Social Club — one of the best rooftops in Melbourne. PÉTANQUE SOCIAL Pétanque Social, a riverside bar inspired by the beach clubs of St Tropez, has joined Crown's riverside precinct, perched right by the Yarra on the riverwalk. As well as sipping drinks and grabbing a bite to eat (including via picnic boxes or tucking into oysters on weekends), you'll hang out on day beds and lounge chairs beneath striped pastel blue umbrellas. The whole idea is to make you feel like you've been whisked far from home, which is a sensation we could all use this year. And, entertainment-wise, there are live DJs, a big screen playing sports all summer and room for the game that gives the venue its name — so get ready to sit at Pétanque Social and play pétanque. CAPTAIN BAXTER Back in 2018, this beachfront restaurant and bar got a massive facelift, and now Captain Baxter feels like a 20s-style beach bungalow. The inside section of the venue might have air-con, but the real vibes at Captain Baxter are very much in the outdoor space that has its own retractable roof — for when Melbourne decides to be Melbourne and have a midday shower during an otherwise hot and sunny day. Enjoy the uninterrupted sea views while noshing on seafood banquets with your mates and sipping on Aperol Spritzes. [caption id="attachment_845962" align="alignnone" width="1920"] I in the Sky Productions[/caption] GRAZELAND Grazeland is West Melbourne's very own 10,000-square-metre outdoor dining precinct that's home to a heady mix of over 50 different food vendors. Here, you'll also find market stalls slinging locally made wares, three licensed bars and an ongoing entertainment program. Head down with a group to eat and drink the day away, watching the sun set over Melbourne's skyline. Could an outdoor dining destination be any better? *Read in the style of Chandler from Friends* SAILOR'S REST Yes, technically, Sailor's Rest is in Geelong. But we love it so much that we decided we had to include it on the list. The family-run restaurant and bar serves up globally inspired cuisine with a particular focus on all things seafood. Either dine at the street-level courtyard, the second floor outdoor terrace or head all the way up to the little rooftop bar for spritzes with a mighty fine sea view. This place gets packed on hot days, offering up peak summer vibes. THE IMPERIAL HOTEL During the week, The Imperial Hotel becomes a go-to place for after-work drinks. Groups of colleagues scurry up to the rooftop as soon as the clock strikes five to nab one of the remaining tables with a view over the CBD (perhaps even sending an intern ahead of the rest of the pack to land a prime position). The coveted outdoor drinking and dining spot offers up good pub grub — parmas, burgers, pies and fish and chips — as well as cocktails for days. The summer spritz specials are also big wins. Grab two Aperol Spritzes and half a dozen oysters or two Aperol Spritzes and a large charcuterie board for an absolute steal. HABA RYE Live music, laidback party feels and elevated pub food are all on offer at this beloved Mornington Peninsula beach club. Haba Rye is made for those big days of drinking and eating out in the sun with mates, which naturally evolve into after-hours dancing till the sun comes up. Start off in the sunlit beer garden, sipping on beers and spritzes before hitting up a gig, pub trivia or drag bingo in the evening. It's a one-stop shop. For more ways to elevate your summer with Aperol, head to the website.
Add Weezer to the list of acts that first made it big decades ago that are hitting our shores again, with the Los Angeles-formed alt-rock band heading Down Under this spring. Rivers Cuomo, Patrick Wilson, Scott Shriner and Brian Bell will take to the stage in Melbourne as part of a whirlwind three-day, three-show trip — on Friday, October 6 at John Cain Arena. Expect the supremely cruisy, holiday vibe-heavy 'Island in the Sun' to get a spin, plus 'Undone — The Sweater Song', 'Buddy Holly', 'El Scorcho', 'Beverly Hills', 'Hash Pip', 'Pork and Beans' and more, all from across the group's three-decade career. [caption id="attachment_912637" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Murphy[/caption] Australia legends Regurgitator will warm up the crowd — another favourite that began rocking the airwaves in the 90s. Weezer love a bit of a nostalgia, at least where their Aussie tours are involved. Back in 2020, they were announced for the Hella Mega Tour's Down Under run, which was meant to hit the country that November with Green Day and Fall Out Boy also headlining. Then the pandemic hit, and the trio's successful worldwide combined gigs cancelled its Australian plans. Top image: Hunter Kahn via Wikimedia Commons.
No matter what your poison, our drinking culture is heavily influenced by big brands, their labels and their signature bottles. Take Absolut Vodka for example, which for many years has run an internationally recognised campaign based on the image of the clean and simple lines of their vodka bottle, in the process making it a modern icon of design. German designer Jorn Berger is getting us to rethink how packaging affects our drinking preferences in a series called Ecohol. He has repackaged some of the world's best known alcoholic drinks, putting them into Tetra Pak cartons. Not only do Berger's designs challenge us to rethink what really influences our consumer choices, they also offer us a sustainable packaging alternative to glass or plastic bottles. Cheers to that. [Via PSFK]
Good news for literally anyone who's sought a pre-Cinema Nova negroni recently — Johnny's Green Room is flipping its 'Closed' sign to 'Open' this December. After shutting its doors in July for months of hibernation, the much-adored rooftop oasis is set to spring back to life, bringing a taste of Roman summer energy to Carlton. Owners Jamie Valmorbida and Luca Sbardella have joined forces with architect Dion Hall (known for his work at Music Room, Supernormal, Pidapipo Laboratorio and Rare Hare) to give the place a snazzy makeover. They're throwing in a semi-retractable roof too, because Melbourne weather. Celebrity chef and author Karen Martini, who has taken on the role of Culinary Director, has whipped up an Italian-inspired menu that's all about sharing — which is great because food tastes better when it's pinched from someone else's plate. Expect a culinary journey from Carlton to the coasts of Italy, minus the jet lag. As for the drinks, cocktail guru Matthew Bax (formerly Bar Americano) is crafting the cocktail list as an ode to Italian outdoor drinking. Think sophisticated yet cool sips with a side of people-watching — one of the oldest and greatest forms of entertainment. Johnny's Green Room is set to re-open in mid-December. We'll let you know when the date is announced.
Celebrate five incredible decades of groundbreaking science fiction at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl as part of this year's Melbourne Festival. As trekkers and music lovers stretch out on the grass and gaze up at the stars in wonder, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will go boldly where it's never gone before, performing a medley of music from the Star Trek universe, alongside various iconic clips from the deck of the Starship Enterprise. Beam us up.
Ever since opening its first bakery in Collingwood back in 2019, To be Frank has been winning over bread and pastry lovers across Melbourne with its 'respectus panis' method of baking. Simply put, the team utilises a long fermentation method with minimal yeast (or natural levain) to bring out the wheat's best flavours — while being great for your gut. Right now, you can nab their bread and pastries (plus top-notch coffee) from their venues in Collingwood and Elsternwick, but there'll soon be a third option — its new venue in East Brunswick Village, which is slated to open in early 2025. The development is already home to knockout venues like Rumi, The Rocket Society, Bridge Road Brewers, Bellboy Cafe, FoMo Cinemas and Siconi Gelato, but a truly good bakery and patisserie is just what the spot needs. The team is working closely with Tahereh Moktarpour and Joey Corso at Corso Designs to design the new venue, which will boast an open patisserie allowing customers to watch its pastry chefs hard at work. [caption id="attachment_983489" align="alignnone" width="1920"] To be Frank Owners Franco Villalva and Lauren Parsons[/caption] All To be Frank's favourites will be up for grabs here, including its extensive range of bread, sweet and savoury pastries, focaccia by the slice, sandwiches and coffee. To be Frank is just about everywhere these days, also setting up a pop-up panettone stall at the EBV Christmas Night Market, plus playing a big role in the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2025. To be Frank's new outpost is slated to open in early 2025, and will be found at East Brunswick Village. For more details, you can check out the venue's website.
The Korean Film Festival In Australia (KOFFIA) is back for its fourth year in 2013, promising unmissable films and the brightest stars in their latest offerings for the screen. This is your opportunity to experience an alternative movie-going experience. You have the choice of 17 feature and various short films, with 50 screenings in total gracing Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne cinemas. It has been dubbed "a must for fans of Korean culture" although just about anyone is sure to enjoy the films, all of which are subtitled in English. On the bill are 9 Muses of Star Empire, which documents the K-Pop phenomenon from the inside, and Architecture 101, a romance-themed session, ideal for couples. There are also a host of other cultural activities — be sure to check them out when planning your KOFFIA experience. https://youtube.com/watch?v=s3dZhCnV7ik
We all need some time off with a poolside cocktail every now and then. Or just to hold on to the dream of getting it one day. But in reality, do we want to pass our whole holidays like that, while our children are off making a completely different set of memories? Not so much. A lot of family holidays aim for segregation: massages and mud baths for the big people; predictable 'kids clubs' for their offspring. But for those who are in the mood to get imaginative and adventurous, we've teamed up with Holden Equinox, the SUV for parents with nothing to prove, to round up five getaways to gratify you. If you want to share memorable — and, quite possibly, educational — experiences with your kids, then read on to find five of the best contemporary regional holiday ideas for families wanting to clear out of the city and have fun. Together. PHILLIP ISLAND Phillip Island isn't all about the penguins – although, of Phillip Island's many delights, these sand-dune waddlers will light up your kids' eyes most. It's a place of natural beauty that's made to be explored on foot. The tribe can witness koalas and fur seals in their natural habitat, and run barefoot on untouched white-sand beaches. If all that sounds a bit tranquil, you can unleash your inner rev-head at the go-kart track – a replica of the famous Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. 2 hours' drive south of Melbourne via the Monash Freeway YARRAWONGA AND LAKE MULWALA Water sports, live music and country charm: it's hard not to enjoy yourself at Yarrawonga. Lake Mulwala pulls waterskiing enthusiasts from across the country and is a great spot to introduce your kids to the sport. Afterwards, the Ski Club is one of country Victoria's best sports venues in terms of space, views, food and drink, and live music for the whole family to get down to. Bushwalkers can take their pick of forest tracks, many of which end with the reward of a river swim, while the Bundalong Tavern, 10 minutes east of Yarrawonga, makes for a memorable country pub experience. 3 hours' drive north of Melbourne via the Hume Highway KYNETON BUSHLAND RESORT The phrase "going bush" often conjures up images of long and lonely northward drives to lands of silos, scrub and Kingswood utes. Not so in the case of Kyneton Bushland Resort, which brings the full outback experience to Melbourne's doorstep. After checking into your self-contained villa (the resort has 55 individual villas spread across 50 hectares of bushland), you can mingle with the abundant wildlife before a spot of canoeing, fishing or swimming in the lake. Unwind or go wild: it's your choice. 1 hour's drive northeast of Melbourne via the Calder Freeway BALLARAT AND SOVEREIGN HILL On the surface, it's just another city, but Ballarat comes with a rich history – literally, given it's the centre of the Victorian goldfields. A trip to Sovereign Hill, a stunningly recreated 1850s Gold Rush town, will cost the average family $140, but it's an unforgettable experience. The sound and light show, which tells the story of the Eureka Stockade, runs nightly, while Winter Wonderlights' Christmas in July is an immersive treat. Lake Wendouree, meanwhile, is very pleasant for a picnic. 1.5 hours' drive east of Melbourne via the Western Highway INVERLOCH AND BUNURONG MARINE PARK One beach tends to meld into another unless you're prepared to go off the beaten track. Cue Bunurong Marine Park: many of its suite of breathtaking beaches are only accessible via long sets of steps. Not great for prams, then — but therein lies the adventure! The area is also great for fishing, observing marine life, snorkelling, rockpooling and fishing. Inverloch, meanwhile, is your base, with its vibrant centre and seasonal produce-laden cafes — the Black Sheep Tapas and Wine Bar is a good starting point. 2 hours' drive southwest of Melbourne via the Monash Freeway Drive your family on adventures in and outside of town in the Holden Equinox, the SUV for parents with nothing to prove. Find out more on the Holden website.
The Summer Olympic Games is a prime opportunity for the world's best architects to showcase their creativity and ingenuity by designing some of the most iconic and celebrated buildings and stadiums in the world. With almost every eye in the world stopping to admire the intense competition between elite athletes from all over the globe, host cities compete to see who can construct the most awe-inspiring sporting amphitheatres. Here is Concrete Playground's selection of the most beautifully designed venues in modern Olympic Games history. London 2012 Shooting Venue Designed by German innovators Magma Architecture, the 2012 Olympic Shooting Venue consists of three demountable pavilions with massive coloured bullet holes. Appropriately, for a shooting event, this unique venue is located at London's Royal Artillery Barracks and will be disassembled following the games and taken to Glasgow for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. An estimated 104,000 spectators will cheer on their nations' finest marksmen in these giant tents. London 2012 Aquatics Centre The ultra-modern indoor facility for the swimming, diving and synchronised swimming events at this year's Olympics is a chic construction designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid. The unique 6-board diving platform used a massive 462 tonnes of concrete during construction, and the three pools in the complex hold around 10 millions litres of water. Beijing 2008 National Stadium Affectionately known as the 'Bird's Nest', Beijing's Olympic cathedral cost a whopping $423 million to build. The breathtaking design by Swiss Architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron was inspired by a study of Chinese ceramics and consists of an enormous concrete bowl surrounded by crisscrossing steel beams that give the stadium its distinctive appearance. 17,000 workers were employed to build the stadium with The Times reporting in January 2008 that ten workers died during its construction, a claim that was vehemently denied by the Chinese Government. Beijing 2008 Aquatics Centre Known colloquially as the water cube (despite it actually being a cuboid), the Beijing Aquatic centre was an absolute marvel at the 2008 Olympic Games. Many believe that the greater depth of the pools and their perforated gutters help make the pool the fastest in the world, which is backed up by the fact that 25 world records were broken within its bubbly and vibrant walls in 2008. Athens 2004 Olympic Sports Complex Originally built in 1982, the Athens Olympic Sports Complex had itself a massive revamp in preparation for the 2004 games. This refurbishment, led by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, transformed the once functional centre into a majestic international facility, with the addition of the awe-inspiring arch seen above and an enormous retractable roof across the Olympic Stadium. Montreal 1976 Olympic Stadium The elaborate, multi-purpose facility of the Montreal Olympic Stadium was designed by Roger Taillibert and used as a venue for a number of events during the games, such as the opening and closing ceremonies, athletics, football and equestrian. The Montreal Tower is the tallest inclined structure in the world at 175m and helps open the retractable roof of the stadium. Munich 1972 Olympiastadion Günther Behnisch and Frei Otto's 80,000 capacity stadium was considered revolutionary at the time of its construction in 1968 due to the giant sweeping canopies of acrylic glass, which were intended to be imitations of the Alps and representative of the new, democratic Germany. The construction of the stadium was made significantly easier due to the large pits that were made by bombings in Munich during World War II. Tokyo 1964 Yoyogi National Stadium The suspension roof of the Yoyogi National Stadium helped make Tokyo's Olympic design by Kenzo Tange both an architectural icon and an Olympic favourite. Tange managed to seamlessly intertwine both modern Western style and traditional Japanese culture to create the fluid, draping roofs of this dynamic structure. Athens 1896 Panathinaiko Stadium Unlike the ultra-modern stadiums of today in which the boundaries of gravity and taste are continually pushed, the first stadium of the modern Olympic Games was designed as a monument to the magnificence of the Ancient Greeks and the Olympics of yesteryear. Reconstructed from the remains of an ancient stadium estimated to be over 2500 years old, the Panathinaiko Stadium is the only major sports venue made entirely of white marble. In classical times the stadium was built and used in honour of the Greek Goddess Athena, while today it is primarily used for commemorative events and special musical performances by the likes of Bob Dylan and Tina Turner.
A top-notch cocktail is something worth savouring. It's worth searching for, too — and what a delicious quest that is. Rather than add every bar ever to your must-visit list, however, plenty of competitions, lists and rankings exist to help you find the best of the best, so that you can spend more time sipping ace drinks. One such contest: the Patrón Perfectionists Australian Cocktail Competition, which then ties into a global tournament. Its focus: getting standout bartenders shaking up and mixing tequila, and using far more than just lemon and salt. The 2022 Aussie event has just been held, with a new best local bartender crowned, as announced at a ceremony on Wednesday, November 9. Tequila lovers of Australia, you'll want to make a date with Melbourne's Pearl Diver Cocktails & Oysters, because the glam bar's Alex Boon just took out the Patrón Perfectionists Australian Cocktail Competition title. To win, Boon had to mix up two cocktails: one that blends Patrón Silver tequila with something representing local culture, using ingredients from a prescribed list, and another speciality drink that featured one Australian ingredient. For the first beverage, Boon's Frankie was inspired by Uncle Toby's oats — yes, you'll never think about the breakfast staple the same way again — while his second, the 60 Hands Highball, used mango in three different ways. Ten Australian bartenders competed for the title, hailing from an impressive list of bars from around the country, including Kayla Reid from fellow Melbourne spot Nick & Nora's; Haadee Bahar of Mimi's & Will's and Storm Evans of Cantina OK! in Sydney; and Andie Bulley of Savile Row, Bec Bayley of Before + After and Martin McConnell of Frog's Hollow Saloon, all in Brisbane. Chris Tilley of Neon Palms and Volare Bar represented Perth, Talis Heggart of Shotgun Willie's and Memphis Slim's House of Blues did the same for Adelaide, and Etien Celzner of Rude Boy flew the flag for Hobart. Boon next vies for international glory, mixing up his best against bartenders from another 18 countries, in March 2023 at Hacienda Patrón in Jalisco, Mexico. If he emerges victorious on the global stage, he'll give Australia two winners in a row, after Cantina OK!'s Harrison Kenney took out the worldwide title last year. For full details on the Patrón Perfectionists Cocktail Competition, head to the event's website.
Saturday morning coffee and exercise rituals can set you back a whole lot of money these days. Gym prices are soaring. As is the cost of the holy flat white. But for the next few Saturdays, from August 24–September 14, Nobody Run Club is partnering with Oatly to pair your group cardio workout with a free oat coffee. Each week, a group of runners with varying proficiencies will meet at the big Hochgurtel Fountain in Carlton Gardens at 8am, and head off on a run that ends at a nearby Melbourne cafe. Here, you can score a free oat coffee from the Oatly crew, before getting on with the rest of your day. [caption id="attachment_754318" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] Joining the run club is free, but there are only 25 spots available each week, so make sure you sign up via the event's website to secure your free run and caffeine fix. The five-kilometre Strava run on Saturday, August 24 will spell out the word 'Oatly' and end at Gertrude Street's Calere Coffee. The eight-kilometre track workout on Saturday, August 31 will drop you off at Archie's All Day — where we highly recommend you stick around for a banging brunch. There's also a five-kilometre interval training session on Saturday, September 7 that ends at Plug Nickel in Collingwood. And the last event is a five-kilometre easy run that'll finish at Sonido. [caption id="attachment_637930" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Archie's All Day[/caption]
As if Aesop didn't already lure us in with their disarmingly aromatic street samples, they've gone and fitted out their newest store with rich, glorious cedarwood. Teaming up with Japanese design and architecture firm Torafu Architects, Melbourne skincare and all-the-nice-things brand Aesop has unveiled the interiors for their latest chapter in Osaka. Snuggled in the Grand Front Osaka Mall, the seven square metre space is a delightfully minimal celebration of cedarwood, with shelves, islands and counters all super sleek blocks of once-baked pillars. Pairing down their interior design to match the stripped back branding of the products, Aesop worked closely with Torafu to be the prettiest kids on the block. "We wanted to create a natural feeling against the cold glass and stone materials decking the promenade. Looking for local materials, we found the once-baked Japanese cedar wood pillars," said Wei Ting of Torafu Architects. "When we presented the material choices to Aesop, they suggested using the pink colour for the walls. "While the rough veneer of the Japanese cedar creates a contrast with the homogenising effect of its surroundings, the top surface of the squared logs of varying length are punctuated by aptly placed sinks, thereby bringing about a soothing sense of rhythm to the store." Gotta love an aptly placed sink. Started in Melbourne in 1987 and seeing its first in-store customers in 2004 at a former underground carpark ramp space in St Kilda, Aesop are slowly infiltrating the world skincare market one unique store at a time, from Berlin to London's Covent Garden, the Hamptons to Shibuya, Tokyo. The makers of mindblowing moisturiser opened a rustic, oak and copper-clad store in Hong in February 2014, covered the roof of their December 2013 Chelsea, NYC store with one thousand different covers of literary journal The Paris Review and just months earlier used fruit picking ladders to quaintify their Marylebone, London store. Not to mention the myriad of pop-ups they've cranked out over the years, Aesop has realised over 25 instalments worldwide now. Founder Dennis Paphitis told Dezeen he was "horrified of the thought of a soulless chain," and aimed to invest time and significant funds toward unique design for each store. "There's a direct correlation between interesting, captivating store spaces and customer traffic within a store," he said. "I’ve always imagined what we do as the equivalent of a weighty, gold charm bracelet on the tanned wrist of a glamorous, well-read European woman who has travelled and collected interesting experiences. I felt and still do that it should be possible to grow in a lateral way without prostituting the essence of what the company is about." Now for some solid design porn. Here's Aesop's new cedarwood-clad, super sleek Osaka joint: Via Dezeen. Images by Takumi Ota.
The Ryan vs Seth debate incited gang wars (it's all Seth, all the time, people — come on). Marissa made our eye twitch with stiff acting and then tore our hearts out in season three (no spoilers, hey). Summer retrospectively became our life and style guru. And still, no true O.C. fan can hear Imogen Heap's 'Hide and Seek' without tearing up just a little bit. For everyone whose teenage expectations of life and love were shaped by The O.C. and Peter Gallagher's eyebrows, listen up: The Bait Shop (aka Supersmall at Good Things in South Yarra) is throwing a huge O.C.-themed party this weekend. Cue Youth Group, Death Cab for Cutie, Eels, Jem, The Futureheads, Spoon et al playing on repeat. They're offering a bar tab for the winner of 'Most Early 2000s Inspired Outfit' (a complex but honourable title) and a range of O.C.-inspired cocktails including White Wasps as a tribute to Kristen's subtle alcoholism. Entry is free, there'll be life-sized cutouts and a themed photobooth, so cancel all existing plans and start fashioning an outfit with maximum spaghetti straps and low-waist jeans that are neither skinny nor flared.
More than a century ago, it was the elixir favoured by French bohemians and creative types all round, with Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, Oscar Wilde and Edgar Allan Poe all fans. Now, it's the beverage of choice at Fitzroy's newest drinking den, Absinthesalon Melbourne. On Rose Street, anyone keen on chasing the green fairy will find 36 different types of French, Swiss and Australian-made tipples for their imbibing pleasure, plus just the right kind of place to enjoy them in. That means Parisian-style, 70-seat digs that might look like an old warehouse on the outside, but aim to transport patrons somewhere special inside — and not just due to their booze range, which is apparently the country's largest absinthe collection. When you're knocking back a few glasses of the highly alcoholic, anise-flavoured, botanical-derived concoction — a substance that has actually previously been banned in Switzerland, Belgium, Brazil, The Netherlands, America and even France since first being distilled in its modern form in the 18th century, in fact — you'll want the right mood, after all. You'll want to feel like you're stepping back in time, and that you're taking part in more than just having a few drinks. Thanks to the art- and history-inspired decor, the first part will be taken care of. As for the second, that comes in the form of performers on hand to guide you through the absinthe-sipping process. If it all sounds familiar, that's because there's an Absinthesalon in Sydney too. The original site has been up and running for seven years, but now it's time for the fun to spread down south. Find Absinthesalon Melbourne at 82 Rose St, Fitzroy. Visit their website and Facebook page for more information.
Banging is the certainly word for it; when Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn begins, it's with high school teacher Emi (Katia Pascariu, Beyond the Hills) and her camera-wielding husband Eugen (first-timer Stefan Steel) having loud, enthusiastic, pink wig-wearing sex — and filming it. Romanian writer/ director Radu Jude (I Do Not Care If We Go Down in History as Barbarians) shows the explicit three-minute snippet of footage as others will see it, because others will indeed see it: the students at Emi's school, their parents and her fellow teachers among them. All genitalia and thrusting and lustful talk (and shouted queries through the door from whoever is looking after the couple's child), this graphic opening also makes a bold and firm statement. So many people within the film's frames will take issue with it as vocally as Emi and her partner are enjoying themselves — and they're unmistakably enjoying themselves — but Jude definitely isn't one of them. 2021's Berlinale Golden Bear-winner, Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn also starts with a gleeful provocation — not just to those seeing Emi and Eugen's home video within the movie, but to Jude's viewers. It's a jolting opening that's exactingly orchestrated to make audiences react, then unpack their own instant reflexes in tandem with the rude on-screen posse that may as well be waving pitchforks. The underlying question: to those who object, what makes this raunchy romp between two consenting adults so shocking? Worse exists on the internet en masse all the time, so is it its unexpected arrival? Within the picture, is it the fact that Emi is a teacher, a woman or that she's unapologetic, too? Both queries speak to ideas long internalised about what we see where, who we allow to do what, and the power that comes from enforcing arbitrary and hypocritical judgements about supposed immorality and obscenity. Indeed, loving, animated, costumed and sex toy-aided intercourse between a married couple in the privacy of their own home is the nicest thing that graces Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn — until the feature's glorious climax, that is. What follows the intimate clip is a razor-sharp satire of a world that's so indifferent to so much ghastliness and so often, yet remains so unaccepting of carnality and so quick to use it as a reason to unbridle our worst sniping impulses. The film wields that notion as a weapon, all as Emi and Bucharest's other residents also navigate the pandemic. Jude could've set his scorching feature at any time, but overtly drawing attention to the daily behaviour that's been accepted while the globe battles a decimating virus — and the fact that some here would rather fixate on a different and trivial kind of viral spread — makes a blunt but perceptive point. Accordingly, in the cinema verite-style first section, Emi rushes around the city on foot, going about an ordinary day that morphs into anything but. Actually, given that she learns of the sex tape backlash while surrounded by everyday hostilities and vulgarities, this chapter reinforces an ugly truth: that the performatively horrified responses from the parents of Emi's students are all too routine. As she traverses the streets, Bucharesters yell and argue bitterly — swearing at each other in the grocery store, purposely hitting pedestrians with cars and otherwise uttering language that'd be at home in porn. Emi is one of them as she tries to get sedatives from the chemist and drops by her school headmistress' (Claudia Ieremia, I Do Not Care If We Go Down in History as Barbarians) home, but the mood and intent is to lay bare a city heaving and brawling in its natural state. In this portion of the film, Jude and his regular cinematographer Marius Panduru observe intently and patiently, while also spying ample evidence of Romania's transition from communism to capitalism peppered around town. That helps anchor Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn's second act, which unleashes scathing and playful cine-essay snippets about the country's past, the planet's present, human behaviour — often at its most atrocious — and how porn is used as both a scapegoat and an anaesthetic. Again, subtlety isn't in the feature's wheelhouse here, nor need it be. Compiled from factual sources, such as news and social media, Jude badges this section 'A Short Dictionary of Anecdotes, Signs and Wonders' — and, in both providing context for so many of the movie's musings and exemplifying its experimental approach, it is certainly a wonder. Lastly, a mask-wearing Emi is interrogated and publicly humiliated by parents and teachers, their punitive savagery and blatant sanctimoniousness on full display. It's the picture's first brilliant, biting and bleakly hilarious climax — what would a film about a sex tape be without more than one peak? — and it initially plays out as anticipated. Yes, "Fox News" is shouted, because Jude's commentary isn't only limited to his homeland. Still, while the kangaroo court-style inquisition Emi faces overflows with foreseeable revelations, they're still shrewd and sizzling, and the movie also saves some of its final knee-weakening thrusts for its last few twists. It also uses this segment to showcase the filmmaker's skilled handling of farce, his adaptability through the course of this free-wheeling feat, and Pascariu's exceptional performance. Trying to glean deeper expressions and emotions from above a strip of face-covering fabric is a pandemic reality; however, Pascariu turns it into tour de force. Among the sights that Jude peers at in Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn's walk-and-witness section is a closed cinema, a 'for rent' sign on its window, which punctuates a chapter filled with incident after incident of antagonism — abuse and selfishness so common that it's clearly an engrained mindset. Losing even a single space to see art, connect with something bigger than oneself, and become immersed in different stories and perspectives alters any society, and it's easy to draw a line from there to Emi's arrogant and entitled tribunal of accusers. In a film designed to galvanise when watched communally thanks to its explicit opening, it's also easy to ponder how those censorious and bumptious parents would react if they were viewing this very movie. They'd likely be the type to desecrate the darkened theatre by loading the porn video on their phone mid-flick, only to then attack and insult anyone who asked them to pay attention to the feature in front of them and stop ruining the big-screen experience for everyone else. Jude could easily make a searing and stinging film about the state of Romania and the world out of that, too.
For the past two years, heading off on holiday has been a matter of 'if' rather than 'where'. If and when border restrictions and lockdowns have allowed it, we've all been travelling to wherever we've been allowed, whenever we've been allowed — across Australia and, when the trans-Tasman bubble was open, to New Zealand as well. With Sydney and Melbourne now free of their stay-at-home stints, Queensland and Tasmania announcing their domestic border reopening plans, and the Australian Government allowing vaccinated Aussies to leave the country purely for a getaway from Monday, November 1, simply heading to whichever few spots will have you will soon be a thing of the past. You'll have options, in other words. And, ahead of all of those border changes, Virgin has just dropped a sale that's serving up a heap of cheap domestic and international flights. Called 'Yay for Holidays', this sale has 1.7-million discounted fares up for grabs — but you'll need to get in quick. They went on sale today, Monday, October 25; however, they're only available until midnight AEST on Monday, November 1 or sold out, whichever comes first. All one-way fares, the discounted economy flights cover 28 different destinations, starting at $49. Some of the domestic specials on offer include Sydney to Byron Bay for $55, Sydney to the Sunshine Coast for $75, Melbourne to Launceston from $59, Melbourne to the Gold Coast from $89, Brisbane to Hamilton Island from $85, Brisbane to Cairns from $89, Adelaide to Melbourne from $79 and Perth to the Gold Coast from $259 (and vice versa in all cases, naturally). Internationally, options span routes to Fiji, Bali and New Zealand. So, you can head from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane to Nadi for $229–239, to Bali from all three cities for $279 and to Queenstown from the trio from $287–302. If you're wondering when you can travel — depending on border restrictions, of course — you can book flights for trips between November 2, 2021–June 23, 2022. Only some fares cover seat selection and checked baggage, however, with the airline announcing back in August that it is now splitting its economy flights into three types. Economy Lite doesn't include checking any baggage or picking your seat, but Economy Choice does — and Economy Flex gives you extra flexibility (hence the name) if you have to change your plans later. As we are still in the middle of a pandemic, flying is little different to normal. Virgin has introduced a range of safety measures, including hand sanitisation stations, contactless check-in and face masks provided to all passengers. Wearing masks on flights also became mandatory in Australia in January. Virgin's 'Yay for Holidays' sale runs from today, Monday, October 25–Monday, November 1 — or until sold out. Find out more about current Australian border restrictions via the Australian Government's Health Direct website and its Smart Traveller website.
